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The Danone Group
About the Partnership
In 1998 the Danone Group and the Convention on Wetlands signed the first partnership agreement between a global environmental convention and a private company. Within the framework of this agreement the Danone Group established the Danone-Evian Fund for Water and the Danone Fund for Nature to support the Convention’s work to raise awareness and promote the sustainable use and management of wetlands as a source of water.
Activities of the Partnership
Communication:
- Since 1998, World Wetlands Day, a global awareness campaign;
- Since 1999, the “Evian Special Prize”, a cash prize of US $10,000 awarded to three recipients of the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards in recognition of their efforts for the wise use and conservation of wetlands.
Designation of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites):
In collaboration with France and Argentina the company has designated two Sites onto the List of Wetlands of International Importance, namely:
- Impluvium d’ Evian in France, designated as a Ramsar Site in 2008, also the source of the popular Evian mineral water
- Reserve Natural Villavicencio in Argentina, designated a Ramsar Site in 2017, the source of a mineral water brand owned by the company. The Site provides important ecosystem services such as food, water and recreation to the community.
Developing methodologies and country projects:
- SPRING tool for improved management of water resources management. The tool was developed in collaboration with IUCN and technical experts who provided comments to improve the tool.
- Between 2007 and 2015 the Evian Water Protection Institute Programme was launched and pilot projects aimed at restoring wetland sites, sustaining livelihoods and promoting knowledge management of wetland sites were developed in Argentina, Nepal, Thailand and Japan.
The Livelihoods Carbon Fund:
In 2008, Danone, the Convention on Wetlands and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) created the Danone Fund for Nature to restore degraded ecosystems, redevelop local economies and combat climate change. A notable outcome was the development of a methodology to fund development projects through carbon credits gained from mangrove restoration. This methodology is recognized under the Clean Development Mechanism of the UN Framework Convention for Climate Change.
Danone extended the Fund after a successful pilot project in Senegal. In 2011 the Danone Fund for Nature became the Livelihoods Carbon Fund, an independent entity that continues to invest in mangrove restoration, agroforestry and rural energy projects whilst generating carbon credits for its investors.